{{Short description|American guitarist}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Bill Leverty | image = Bill Leverty live.jpg | caption = | alt = Leverty | landscape = yes | birth_name = William G. Leverty II | alias = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1967|1|30}}<ref name=Curran2016/> | death_date = | birth_place = Richmond, Virginia, U.S. | instrument = Guitar | genre = Hard rock, glam metal | occupation = Musician, songwriter | years_active = 1984–present | current_member_of = FireHouse | past_member_of = White Heat | website = {{url|leverty.com}} }}
'''William G. Leverty II''' (born January 30, 1967) is an American guitarist. He is a founding member of the hard rock band FireHouse and has been responsible for writing many of the band's hit songs. Throughout the 2000s, Leverty has also pursued a solo career, releasing five albums: ''Wanderlust, Southern Exposure, Deep South, Drive,'' and ''Divided We Fall''. Following the death of founding member and vocalist CJ Snare, Leverty alongside drummer Michael Foster are the only original members still active in the band.
==Biography== Born in Richmond, Virginia, Leverty's parents gave him a guitar when he was 4 years old, although he didn't take playing guitar seriously until he was 14. Around this same time, Leverty began to study music theory in high school.<ref name=Curran2016>{{Cite news|last=Curran|first=Colleen|date=January 9, 2016|title=Richmond guitarist Bill Leverty on FireHouse fame|work=Richmond Times Dispatch|url=https://richmond.com/entertainment/richmond-guitarist-bill-leverty-on-firehouse-fame/article_87e8ed80-99f4-5c49-bcfd-b734998408b6.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127235840/https://richmond.com/entertainment/richmond-guitarist-bill-leverty-on-firehouse-fame/article_87e8ed80-99f4-5c49-bcfd-b734998408b6.html |archive-date=January 27, 2021 |access-date=March 8, 2024}} Reported on January 9, 2016, to be 53 years old.</ref> In 1984, Leverty's band, White Heat, held auditions for drummers and it was here that Leverty met fellow Richmond native and his longtime bandmate and collaborator, Michael Foster. In 1988, Leverty and Foster's White Heat combined forces with C.J. Snare and Perry Richardson. Before signing to Epic Records in 1989, White Heat changed their name to FireHouse.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Binggeli|first=Dagi|date=September 30, 1991|title='FIREHOUSE' Warms You Without Burning You Out|url=https://www.deseret.com/1991/9/30/18943702/firehouse-warms-you-without-burning-you-out|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903040625/https://www.deseret.com/1991/9/30/18943702/firehouse-warms-you-without-burning-you-out |archive-date=September 3, 2021 |access-date=|website=Deseret News|language=en}}</ref> Firehouse went on to sell over 7 million albums worldwide, as well as win the 1991 American Music Award for "Favorite New Heavy Metal/Hard Rock Artist."<ref>{{Cite news|last=Mills|first=Fred|date=October 11, 2005|title=Firehouse plans to stay hot|work=Tampa Bay Times|url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1992/06/29/firehouse-plans-to-stay-hot/|access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Nieman|first=Carrie|date=July 24, 2002|title=Firehouse: Hard rock band|url=https://www.styleweekly.com/richmond/firehouse/Content?oid=1371683|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150920213916/http://www.styleweekly.com/richmond/firehouse/Content?oid=1371683 |archive-date=September 20, 2015 |access-date=|website=Style Weekly|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=19th American Music Awards (presented in 1992)|url=http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1992/amas.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040704225417/http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/1992/amas.htm|archive-date=July 4, 2004|access-date=January 21, 2021|website=Rock On The Net}}</ref>
In 1993, Leverty won an ASCAP songwriter award for Firehouse's highest charting single, "Love of a Lifetime."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Haring|first=Bruce|date=May 25, 1993|title=Warren, 'Best' tapped tops at ASCAP gala|url=https://variety.com/1993/music/news/warren-best-tapped-tops-at-ascap-gala-107145/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304222626/http://variety.com/1993/music/news/warren-best-tapped-tops-at-ascap-gala-107145/ |archive-date=March 4, 2014 |access-date=|website=Variety|language=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Wilker|first=Deborah|date=September 30, 1992|title=Firehouse More Than Just A Ballad Band|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1992-09-30-9201240566-story.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708085729/https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1992-09-30-9201240566-story.html |archive-date=July 8, 2019 |access-date=|website=Sun Sentinel|language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2004, after 15 years with Firehouse, Leverty released his first solo album, ''Wanderlust''. On October 9, 2007, Leverty released his first instrumental and second solo album, ''Southern Exposure'', followed by a third album, ''Deep South,'' in 2009. His fourth solo album, ''Drive'', was released in February 2013. Leverty released his fifth album, ''Divided We Fall'', in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wood|first=James|date=March 4, 2013|title='Drive': FireHouse Guitarist Bill Leverty Discusses New Album of Classic Cover Songs|url=https://www.guitarworld.com/features/drive-firehouse-guitarist-bill-leverty-discusses-new-album-classic-cover-songs|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811101533/https://www.guitarworld.com/features/drive-firehouse-guitarist-bill-leverty-discusses-new-album-classic-cover-songs |archive-date=August 11, 2020 |access-date=|website=Guitar World|language=}}</ref>
In 2013, Leverty formed a supergroup, Flood the Engine. FTE is composed of Leverty, Jimmy Kunes (Cactus), Keith Horne (Tanya Tucker, Waylon Jennings, Trisha Yearwood, Luke Bryan), and Andre Labelle (Vinnie Vincent). Flood the Engine released their only album, ''Flood The Engine,'' in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wood|first=James|date=November 15, 2013|title=Firehouse Guitarist Bill Leverty Discusses His New Project, Flood The Engine|url=https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/firehouse-guitarist-bill-leverty-discusses-his-new-project-flood-engine|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929113946/https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/firehouse-guitarist-bill-leverty-discusses-his-new-project-flood-engine |archive-date=September 29, 2020 |access-date=|website=Guitar World}}</ref>
== Gear == upright|thumb| Leverty playing his C.R. Alsip Guitar "Lucky 13" Throughout the 1990s, Leverty held an endorsement deal with Yamaha Guitar Development. He played the Yahama Pacifica model for 16 years.
On July 4, 2006, GREM USA announced that Leverty signed an exclusive endorsement with the guitar manufacturer. GREM guitars produced "The Bill Leverty Free Radical" model.
In 2012, Leverty began working with C.R. Alsip Guitars and became the guitar manufacturer's first endorsee. Leverty worked hand in hand with C.R. Alsip's master luthier & owner, Jake Willoughby, in the prototyping stages. Soon thereafter, Leverty's C.R. Alsip guitar known as "Lucky 13" was born. Leverty's second Alsip, "Goldie," was pictured on his fourth solo album, ''Drive''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Gear|url=https://m.leverty.com/gear.php|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117005725/https://m.leverty.com/gear.php |archive-date=January 17, 2021 |access-date=|website=Leverty.com}}</ref>
==Personal life== Leverty married his wife Kris in 1996; together they have one child.
==Discography== ===Studio albums=== * ''Wanderlust'' (2004) * ''Southern Exposure'' (2007) * ''Deep South'' (2009) * ''Drive'' (2013) * ''Divided We Fall'' (2020)
===with Firehouse=== *''FireHouse'' (1990) *''Hold Your Fire'' (1992) *''3'' (1995) *''Good Acoustics'' (1996) *''Category 5'' (1998) *''O<sub>2</sub>'' (2000) *''Prime Time'' (2003) *''Full Circle'' (2011)
=== with Flood the Engine ===
* ''Flood the Engine'' (2013)
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commonscat}} *[http://leverty.com/ Official website] *[http://www.firehousemusic.com/ Firehouse official site] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20140605095452/http://www.metalrulesradio.com/ Bill Leverty interviewed on Metal Rules! Radio episode 10]
{{FireHouse}} {{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leverty, Bill}} Category:1967 births Category:Living people Category:American rock guitarists Category:American male guitarists Category:FireHouse (band) members Category:Musicians from Richmond, Virginia Category:Guitarists from Virginia Category:20th-century American guitarists